SET amp owners thread

[bonzo75]

An audiophile friend and I worked with an experienced and talented amp builder who my friend was familiar with and came as a trusted source.
We have had three amps built over the last year:
1) VT25 driving 211 (13 watts)
2) E55L driving 211 (13 watts)
3) DET 25 driving DET 25 (8watts)

so 1 & 3 are SET driving SET

They are all built as monoblocks
They all have both single ended and balanced inputs.
They are all fully tube rectified
They all have choke loaded power supplies
There are no capacitors or resistors anywhere in the signal path

they all share the same design where the power tube is rectified by an RGN 4004/U8 type tube (and variants) and the Output tube is rectified by 4- GZ34 (and variants)

the build requires the transformers and chokes to be custom made for the tubes and circuit.
As an example, we run the 211 tubes at 500v based on design choices

both 211 builds are copper wound transformers and the DET25 is silver wound.

the DET25 has not been delivered yet so I can’t comment on the sound and have never heard this tube before…I actually had never heard of this tube before.

both versions of the 211 have been in our systems for 6-9 months. They are dead quiet and sound very good. Based on my experience, this build really let’s you hear the tubes. So, as an example, the difference between an STC 4242 and a WE 242 or a telefunken 237 is very apparent.
I’ve heard the amps with Devore O/96, Audio Note ANe/SEC silver, Honing Ellipse and my current speakers which are DIY horns using AER/BD3 and Supravox 285EXC field coils. These are not yet finished as I am considering finishes and trying some different configurations.

So, I encourage you to pursue this path…results have been very rewarding for me

Some pics:
System
VT25/211
E55L/211
DE

Many thanks for Glide3's superb community spirit in sending over the DET 25 10 watt amp to London for a compare. We played it at Bill's. The DET25 has a higher plate dissipation and gain compared to the VT25/10Y. An amp that consists of a single VT25 can produce around 2-5 watts, whereas a DET25 can produce around 8-10 watts. Brilliant amp, tonal textures, very musical, great weight and bass.

I have posted the Beethoven 7th here https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...rom-deutsche-grammophon-aaa.36400/post-891564

Below is Scheherazade

 

[the sound of Tao]

Many thanks for Glide3's superb community spirit in sending over the DET 25 10 watt amp to London for a compare. We played it at Bill's. The DET25 has a higher plate dissipation and gain compared to the VT25/10Y. An amp that consists of a single VT25 can produce around 2-5 watts, whereas a DET25 can produce around 8-10 watts. Brilliant amp, tonal textures, very musical, great weight and bass.

I have posted the Beethoven 7th here https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...rom-deutsche-grammophon-aaa.36400/post-891564

Below is Scheherazade

The tonal balance seems a great match for his pnoes, with great flow and sense of immediacy. Nice!

 

[bonzo75]

Many thanks for Glide3's superb community spirit in sending over the DET 25 10 watt amp to London for a compare. We played it at Bill's. The DET25 has a higher plate dissipation and gain compared to the VT25/10Y. An amp that consists of a single VT25 can produce around 2-5 watts, whereas a DET25 can produce around 8-10 watts. Brilliant amp, tonal textures, very musical, great weight and bass.

I have posted the Beethoven 7th here https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...rom-deutsche-grammophon-aaa.36400/post-891564

Below is Scheherazade

 

[Rob181]

Not a big orchestral fan - BUT - that amp & speaker combo is superb - tone - balance - texture - cohesion - a beautiful reproduction. Hang on to that amp Bill...

 

[ihmeyers]

I'm a big fan of both Glide3 and the amp. Bonzo, the video was fantastic.

Glide has been incredibly helpful to me in my quest for natural sound.

 

[Atmasphere]

Sun Audio SET being repaired (again). I'm trying out this no-name Chinese 300B with giant Tamura transformers. So far the sound is great. Cleaner than my Sun 300B. Generic 300B tubes only right now. I may need to pop in something good.

You might want to try different input tubes while you're at it...

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

Many thanks for Glide3's superb community spirit in sending over the DET 25 10 watt amp to London for a compare. We played it at Bill's. The DET25 has a higher plate dissipation and gain compared to the VT25/10Y. An amp that consists of a single VT25 can produce around 2-5 watts, whereas a DET25 can produce around 8-10 watts. Brilliant amp, tonal textures, very musical, great weight and bass.

I have posted the Beethoven 7th here https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...rom-deutsche-grammophon-aaa.36400/post-891564

Below is Scheherazade

Sounds amazing, congratulations!
I imagine acoustic treatment in the front is a no-go since the view is awesome?

 

[bonzo75]

Sounds amazing, congratulations!
I imagine acoustic treatment in the front is a no-go since the view is awesome?

yes his speakers are kept that way to not obstruct the view. Also he pushes them back and pulls down the pool table at times and then folds it back up and pulls the speakers out for critical listening

 

[bonzo75]

Here is weight from a single driver

 

[Rob181]

Here is weight from a single driver

Once again - a beautiful sound - would love to hear some vocal tracks with that combo...

 

[morricab]

New speakers for my SETs to play with..


Just set up now for an initial listen. Very transparent but tonally excellent with powerful bass.

 

[Glide3]

New speakers for my SETs to play with..

View attachment 113125
Just set up now for an initial listen. Very transparent but tonally excellent with powerful bass.

Congratulations, wonderful speakers! I used Horning Ellipse for many years and enjoyed them immensely. What amplifier(s) will you be using?

 

[morricab]

Congratulations, wonderful speakers! I used Horning Ellipse for many years and enjoyed them immensely. What amplifier(s) will you be using?

One of several options, including it’s stable mate the SATI 520b. So, not sure yet but ultimately probably and Aries Cerat.

 

[gestalt]

New speakers for my SETs to play with..

View attachment 113125
Just set up now for an initial listen. Very transparent but tonally excellent with powerful bass.

Yep.

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

One of several options, including it’s stable mate the SATI 520b. So, not sure yet but ultimately probably and Aries Cerat.

I´ve used Tommy Hørnings OPTs since 2001 and recently converted to his Litz wired nanocrystalline OPTs and his nanocrystalline interstages, both toroids
fantastic resolution and musicality
have ordered his new nanocrystalline AVCs too

 

[morricab]

I´ve used Tommy Hørnings OPTs since 2001 and recently converted to his Litz wired nanocrystalline OPTs and his nanocrystalline interstages, both toroids
fantastic resolution and musicality
have ordered his new nanocrystalline AVCs too

Nice.

 

[Argonaut]

New speakers for my SETs to play with..

View attachment 113125
Just set up now for an initial listen. Very transparent but tonally excellent with powerful bass.

Nice Brad … I ran a pair of Agathon Ultimates for a while, really fine transducers with a prodigious presence due to the internal folded horn married to an adapted DX4 and Horning wave guide tweeter …

 

[morricab]

Nice Brad … I ran a pair of Agathon Ultimates for a while, really fine transducers with a prodigious presence due to the internal folded horn married to an adapted DX4 and Horning wave guide tweeter …

I can't believe how heavy the magnet is of this pm65 midrange driver. A little beast

 

[bonzo75]

Another ninth symphony video posted here


Post in thread 'Visit to Audiophile Bill to hear his horns project'
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/thre...l-to-hear-his-horns-project.31032/post-892342

 

[Ampexed]

My recently completed SET project amp. The B+ and filament power supplies are in two separate rack-mounted chassis which are connected to this main amplifier via umbilical cables. My speakers are Altec Lansing A7-500 which are using active crossovers at 500Hz - this SET is driving the high frequencies and a McIntosh MC240 is powering the low frequencies.

There is a thread here with the details of the build.